LONDON, United Kingdom, 6th May 2016.- Dr. Teresa Alonso Rasgado received the Ohtli distinction, granted by the Government of Mexico, from the Ambassador Diego Gomez-Pickering for enhancing the academic exchanges between Mexico and the United Kingdom and in this way has left a path to be followed by future generations of Mexicans living abroad.

At the moment of delivering the medal, pin and diploma, the diplomat explained that the Nahuatl word “Othli” means "way” or “path" -these paths are pointed in the codex by footsteps- the award is granted by the Institute of Mexicans Living Abroad (IME, by its acronym in Spanish) from the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its focused to strengthen relations with the Mexican community that resides outside our country.

The Ohtli ceremony awards was held at the official residence of the Government of Mexico, in the framework of the commemoration of the battle of “Cinco de Mayo”, which derived on the defeating of the French army in 1862.

In his speech Gomez-Pickering recalled the contribution Dr. Alonso has done to strengthen the academic exchanges between both countries and the linkages between the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONAcyT) and several British institutions of higher education, particularly with the University of Manchester, considered as the academic institution which receives the highest number of Mexican students in the world, with more than 300 students each year.

Likewise, Dr. Alonso, who achieved the incorporation of the Latin American Postgraduate Programme in the University of Manchester, thanked for this distinction with a renewed commitment of creating greater opportunities for projects in the area of scientific research.

Among the audience composed mainly of students and representatives of educational institutions from Mexico and the United Kingdom, there were also present Dr. Elizabeth Baquedano, professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences and History at University College London (UCL); Marysol Sanchez Gonzalez, owner of Mestizo restaurant, as well as Hortensia Celis Valenzuela, community leader and radio host, women who were previously awarded with the Ohtli as the maximum distinction of the Government of Mexico to a Mexican abroad.

Also attended other previous Ohtli winners such as Roberto Alvarado, co-owner of Mestizo Restaurant and Jose Luis Guerrero, director of HSBC Global Markets.